Recovery device



Feb. 14, 1967 T. H. Mm 3,303,521

RECOVERY DEVICE Filed Apr-11 23, 1965 FIG I FIG. Z e9 'e INVENTOR. THEoDof-PE h. M/x

A T TQQ/v5 ns United States Patent O This invention relates to devices for recovering submerged objects such as iishing rods, guns and other equipment from the bottom of bodies of water into which they have been accidentally dropped.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a device which may be quickly and easily attached to an article and which is rapid in its response to submersion of the article to indicate the location of the article at the bottom of the water.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the above type which utilizes exterior pressure of water thereagainst to initiate operation of the device, and which utilizes a water activated gas-generating material to inate a bladder to quickly carry a line or cord from the submerged article to the surface of lthe water.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a device as set forth which dispenses with the necessity for triggering apparatus such as springs and the like under tension, during inoperative periods.

' Another object of this invention is the provision of a retrieving or recovery device which is simple and inexpensive to produce and which is lhighly eiicient in operation.

To the above ends, I provide a housing having means for attachment to the article to be protected against loss, the housing having a pair of spaced openings. A closure member is removably mounted in one of said openings and a check valve in the other thereof. The closure member supports a generally cylindrical container in the housing, the container having a length of cord wrapped therearound with one end of the cord attached thereto and the other end attached to the casing. The container has an open end engaging said closure member and an opposite end provided with an inlet opening that is normally closed by a second check valve. An inilatable bladder extends longitudinally within said container and has an open end held in the container adjacent the open end of the container, and a closed end near the second c heck valve. Water activated gas-generating material is disposed in the casing between the check valves therein and the adjacent end of the container, and other wateractivated generating material is disposed in the container between the second check valve and said bladder. Water entering the casing through the first mentioned check valve causes gas to be generated at sufficient pressure to cause ejection of the container and closure member from the casing, after which water entering the container through the second check valve causes gas to be generated in the container at suiiicient quantity and pressure t eject the closure member therefrom and invert and inflate the bladder to render the same and the container buoyant.

The above, and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following` detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a view in side elevation of a submerged article showing the recovery device of this invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in axial section of the recovering device of this invention, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in side elevation and partly in axial section, illustrating the operation of the device;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates, in its entirety, a conventional fishing rod including a handle 2 and a ferrule 3 on which is mounted a casting reel or the like 4. The rod 1 is shown in FIG. 1 as lying on the bottom 5 of a body of water 6.

The recovery or retrieving device of this invention involves a cylindrical casing 7 having an open end 8, the opposite end 9 defining an inlet opening 10 that is normally closed by a check valve 11 made from suitable liexible material, such as rubber or the like, in the form of a disk 12 that is seated against a shoulder 13 in overlying relationship to the inner end of the inlet opening 10. The disk 12 is formed with an arcuate slit 14 which defines a valve element 15 which normally covers the inner end of the inlet opening 10 and which may be swung inwardly to a valve open position shown in FIG. 3 by pressure of water on the exterior of the casing 7. A length of flexible tape 16 is adhered or otherwise secured to the outer cylindrical surface of the casing 7 and is preferably coated on one side with water-proof adhesive whereby the same is secured to the ferrule 3 of the fishing rod 1. A disk or layer 17 of water absorbent material, such as wadded cotton or the like, is disposed adjacent the check valve 11 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

The open end 8 of the casing 7 is normally closed by a closure member or cap 18 formed to provide a cylindrical skirt 19 which is slidably contained within the open end portion of the casing 7. A cylindrical container 20 isl formed at one end with a transverse end wall 21 and is open at its opposite end, said opposite end being formed with a radially inwardly projecting circumferential flange 22 which defines a relatively large diameter opening 23. The container 20 is normally disposed longitudinally with-l in the casi-ng 7, as shown in FIG. 2, said opposite end of the container 20 being received in and supported by the skirt 19 of the closure member 20. A length of ilexible string or oord 24 is wound on the outer cylindrical surface of the container 20 and has one end suitably anchored to the interior of the casing 7, as indicated at 25, the opposite end of the cord 24 being suitably anchored to the container 20 by any convenient means, not shown.

' As shown in FIG. 2, the end wall-21 of the container 20 is normally directed toward the end 9 of the casing 7, and is axially spaced from the disk or layer 17, the end wall 21 being provided with an inlet opening 26 that is normally closed by a check valve 27 substantially identical to the check valve 11, but of somewhat smaller size. A disk or layer 28 of the same material as the disk 17, is disposed within the container 20 in generally face-to-face engagement with the check valve 27.

An elongated inflatable bladder 29 is normally disposed longitudinally within the container 20 and has a closed end 30 disposed in axially spaced relation to the absorbent disk 28 and an open end 31 that is formed to provide an annular bead 32 which snugly engages the adjacent cylindrical inner wall surface of the container 20 in closely axially inwardly spaced relation to the ange 22. A locking ring 33 is interposed between the bead 32 and the flange 22, the outer open end portion 31 of the bladder 29 being looped over the locking ring 33 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ring 33 and flange 22 cooperating to limit movement of the beaded open end 31 of the bladder 29 axially outwardly relative to the container 20. The

Patented Feb. 14, 1967 bladder 29 is preferably made from elastic material, such as rubber or the like, the locking ring 33 may be made from any suitable resilient material of greater hardness than that of the bladder 29.

A quantity of water activated gas-generating dry chemical material 34 is placed in the casing 7 adjacent the disk 17, and a quantity of like material, indicated at 35 is placed within the container 20 between the absorbent disk 28, and the adjacent inner end 30 of the bladder 29. The chemical material 34, 35 may be calcium carbide, aluminum carbide, or any of a number of such chemicals which, when coming into contact with water, will rapidlyV generate a substantial quantity of gas.

The check valve 11 is so constructed that, in the event that the rod 1 is accidentally dropped into the Water, the valve element will open responsive to external water pressure at a depthof approximately 4 feet. As Water enters the interior of the casing 7 through the inlet opening 10 thereof, the disk or layer 17 will immediately soak up the water and become thoroughly wetted thereby. Water will continue to enter the casing 7 through the inlet opening 10 until gas generated by mixing of the water with the chemical material 34 builds up suflicient pressure to close the check valve element 15. Gas pressure rapidly builds up in the casing 7 to a-point where the container and closure member 18 are ejected thereby from the casing 7, whereupon Water under pressure enters the inlet opening 26 and opens the check valve 27. Water entering the container 20 causes the disk or layer 28 to become thoroughly soaked, and mixes with the chemical material 35 to rapidly generate gas under pressure within the container 20. As gas pressure builds up therein, the bladder 29. becomes inverted and inflated, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3, creating suicient buoyancy to cause the container 20 to float to the surface of the water 6, the cord 24 uncoiling or unwinding from the container 20. The user, seeing the inllated bladder 29 on the surface of the Water may then grasp the same and retrieve the rod 1 from the bottom 5. f

After the submerged article has been retrieved, the bladder 29 may be deated by manually opening the check valve 27, after which the bladder 29 and, disk or layer 28 may be removed from the container 20. Further, the disk or layer 17 may be easily removed from the casing 7 and, after the casing 7, container 20 and bladder 29 have been thoroughly dried, the device may be easily recharged by inserting dry disks 17 and 28 and fresh supply of chemicals 34 and 35. The closure member 18, if lost, would require replacement.

It will be appreciated that soaking ofthe disks or layers 17 and 28 insures entry of suicient water to the casing 7 and container 20 respectively to generate the amount of gas necessary to eject the container 20 from the casing 7 and to cause, thorough inflation of the bladder 29, after their respective check valves have reclosed due to generatron of gas pressure within the casing 7 and container 20. rlfhe casing 7, container 20, and closure member 18, all being preferably made from suitable synthetic plastic material, are sufficiently inexpensive to make the entire devlce a throw-away item to be discarded after use, if desired.

My invention has beenV thoroughly tested and found t-o be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objecnves set forth; and, while I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my recovery device, 1t will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In'a recovery device for submerged articles, a casing having a pair of spaced openings therein, a check valve normally closing one of said openings, a removable closure member for the other of said openings, means for attaching said casing to an article prior to submersion of said object, a generally cylindrical QQIlllllll" Supported by said closure member within said casing, a length of flexible cord wound on the exterior surface of said container and having one end secured to said container and the opposite end secured to said casing, said container having an open end adjacent said closure member and an inlet opening spaced from said open end, a second check valve normally closing said inlet opening, an elongated inllatable bladder extending longitudinally within said container and havingv an open end disposed adjacent the open end of 'said container, means engaging the open end of said bladder to hold the open end of the bladder against movement longitudinally outwardly of said container, water activatedl gas generating material in said casing responsive to entry of water into said casing through said rst-mentioned check valve to generate gas under sufficient pressure to eject said container and closure member from said casing, and water activated gas-generating material in the container responsive to entry of water through said second check valve to generate gasunder suicient pressure to remove said closure member from the container and invert and inflate said bladder externally of said container.

2. The recovery device defined in claim 1 in further combination with a layer of moisture absorbing material within said casing adjacent said first-mentioned check valve and responsive to entry of water through said firstmentioned check valve to soak up sufficient water prior to closing of the valve for substantial vgas-generating reaction with said gas-generating material in said casing.

3. The recovery device defined in claim 2 in further combination with a layer of water absorbing material within said container adjacent said second check valve and responsive to entry of water through said second valve to soak up suicient water prior to closing of said second check valve for substantial gas-generating reactiony with said gas-generating material in said casing.

4. In a recovery device for submerged articles, a cylindrical casing having an open end and an inlet opening at itsl other end, a check valve normally closing said inlet opening, a closure member having a cylindrical skirt snugly slidably received in said open end to close said open end, means for attaching said casing to an article prior to submersion of said article, a cylindrical container in said casing and having an open end axially slidably re-1 ceived in and supported by said cylindrical skirt with its other end axially spaced from said check valve, an inlet opening in said other end of said container, a second check valve normally closing said last-mentioned inlet opening, an elongated inflatable bladder extending longitudinally within said container and having an open end disposed adjacent the open end of said container, means engaging the open end of said bladder to hold the open end of the bladder against movement longitudinally outwardly of said container, water activated gas-generating material in said casing between said first-mentioned check valve and the adjacent end of said container and responsive to entry of Water into said casing through said rst-mentioned check valve to generate gas under suicient pressure to eject said container and closure member from said casing, and water activated gas-generating material in said container between said second check Valve and the adjacent end of said bladder and responsive to entry of water through said second check valve to generate gas under sufficient pressure to remove said closure member from the container and invert and inate said bladder externallyv of said container.

5. In a recovery device for submerged articles, a cylindrical casing having an open end and an inlet opening at its other end, a check valve normally closing said inletv opening at its other end directed toward the inlet valve in said casing and spaced therefrom, said one end of the container lbeing axially slidably received in and supported by said cylindrical skirt, a check valve normally closing said relatively small diameter openingr and operative to admit water under predetermined pressure to the interior of said container, an elongated inatable bladder extending longitudinally within said container and having an open end disposed adjacent the relatively large diameter opening in said container and a closed end directed toward the check valve in said container, said bladder including an annular bead at its open end, a lock ring in said container interposed between said one end thereof and said bead to positively limit movement of the adjacent end of said bladder axially outwardly through said large diameter opening, Water activated gas-generating material in said casing responsive to entry of Water into said casing through said firstmenti0ned check valve to generate gas under sufficient pressure to eject said container and closure member from said casing, and water activated gas-generating material in the container responsive to entry of water through said second check valve to generate gas under sufficient pressure to remove said closure member from the container and invert and inate said bladder externally of said container,

6. The recovery device defined in claim 5 in which said means for attaching said casing to an article comprises a length of exible tape, said tape being secured to said casing and having Water-proof adhesive thereon for engagement with said article.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1959 Gruenberg 9-9 5/ 1960 Gruenberg 9-9 

1. IN A RECOVERY DEVICE FOR SUBMERGED ARTICLES, A CASING HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED OPENINGS THEREIN, A CHECK VALVE NORMALLY CLOSING ONE OF SAID OPENINGS, A REMOVABLE CLOSURE MEMBER FOR THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS, MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID CASING TO AN ARTICLE PRIOR TO SUBMERSION OF SAID OBJECT, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER SUPPORTED BY SAID CLOSURE MEMBER WITHIN SAID CASING, A LENGTH OF FLEXIBLE CORD WOUND ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING ONE END SECURED TO SAID CONTAINER AND THE OPPOSITE END SECURED TO SAID CASING, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN END ADJACENT SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND AN INLET OPENING SPACED FROM SAID OPEN END, A SECOND CHECK VALVE NORMALLY CLOSING SAID INLET OPENING, AN ELONGATED INFLATABLE BLADDER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING AN OPEN END DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER, MEANS ENGAGING THE OPEN END OF SAID BLADDER TO HOLD THE OPEN END OF THE BLADDER AGAINST MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER, WATER ACTIVATED GAS GENERATING MATERIAL IN SAID CASING RESPONSIVE TO ENTRY OF WATER INTO SAID CASING THROUGH SAID FIRST-MENTIONED CHECK VALVE TO GENERATE GAS UNDER SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO EJECT SAID CONTAINER AND CLOSURE MEMBER FROM SAID CASING, AND WATER ACTIVATED GAS-GENERATING MATERIAL IN THE CONTAINER RESPONSIVE TO ENTRY OF WATER THROUGH SAID SECOND CHECK VALVE TO GENERATE GAS UNDER SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO REMOVE SAID CLOSURE MEMBER FROM THE CONTAINER AND INVERT AND INFLATE SAID BLADDER EXTERNALLY OF SAID CONTAINER. 